Insights To Live A Better Life
Jaws is the most successful “horror” movie of all time. Adjusted for inflation, it also comes in at number seven for all genres of movie*. The film is 124 minutes long. But guess when the shark first makes it full appearance? 80 minutes into the film. So for most the movie, we just hear about the shark, which is what makes it so scary. Continue reading “How Luck Looks Like Genius In Hindsight (1 min)”
When was the last time you thought about how you breathe? I’m guessing you think more about what you eat, how you exercise, or even how you sleep. Yet, we spend more time breathing than pretty much other activity and of course, it is fundamental to being alive. But do you know how to breathe well? Until recently, I didn’t, even though I’m into meditation.
Continue reading “Stop Breathing Through Your Mouth!”
I was on a Zoom call recently and I noticed how someone in their forties looked very young. It could have been the “touch up my appearance” setting, but they also look young in person. So, what is the secret of such people. Over the years, I’ve asked these preternaturally young people what they do, and here’s what I’ve learned:
Continue reading “How To Stay Looking Young”
It’s one of the seven deadly sins and in some traditions it’s thought to be the root of all evil. Aristotle defined it as feeling pain at the good fortune of others. Immanuel Kant extended the definition to include aiming at destroying others’ good fortune. Contemporary society, however, rarely talks about envy, perhaps because consumerism is fuelled by it. This is all the more reason to shine a light on it. Continue reading “Stop Envy From Hurting You”
It is tempting to think that leadership today is uniquely bad, but when you study history you find that nothing is unique, especially when it comes to human nature. Therefore, I love reading ancient accounts of good leadership, such as by Confucius or Cicero. They can provide us insights into how to be better leaders today. And I recently came across a 7th-century letter written by the head of an empire to his new governor of Egypt on how to lead. It was excellent.
Continue reading “Top leadership lessons from the 7th-century”
I love my pets. I have one dog, Bamboo (a Cavachon), seven cats (from Norwegian Forests to moggies), and five chickens! I also love my films, so I always notice the pets. There are many films that have named pets, and in a surprising number, they play pivotal if not central roles. Don’t believe me? Here’s a selection of them:
Continue reading “Films that were really about the pets!”
I’ve now done over 25 podcast interviews since launching my Macro Hive Conversations podcast show in March. I’ve interviewed high-profile policymakers like former Bank of England governor, Lord Mervyn King, top investors like Jim Leitner and leading academics like Professor Laura Veldkamp (she recently presented at the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole gathering). I’ve learned a few things along the way, and a few people have asked me for tips, so here they are:
Continue reading “How To Conduct Podcast Interviews”
plebs, noun (used with a plural verb) 1. (in ancient Rome) the common people, as contrasted with the patricians and later with the senatorial nobility or the equestrian order. 2. The common people; the populace.
I recently re-watched Knives Out. It’s a fantastic film starring James Bond/ Daniel Craig as the shrewd detective, Benoit Blanc, investigating the death of the head of a rich family. The driving force of this dark comedy is that in the will all the money is left to the servant, Marta (played by Ana de Armas). Naturally, the family is unhappy and do everything possible to get the money. I won’t reveal more, needless to say, there are lots of twists and turns and the right person wins out. Continue reading “When the servants, commoners and plebs take over…”
Half the challenge of relationships, whether with romantic partners, family or friends, is knowing how you like to receive love. For some, it could be holding hands and hugs, for others it could be words of affirmation or it could be having quality time with someone. Once you understand that people like to receive love in different ways, it can be revelatory. You no longer need to feel guilty about not conforming to some stereotype and you can start to understand others better.
Continue reading “What’s your language of love?”
I recently thought about why I enjoy watching TV with my son. It’s not really about what we are watching (currently re-runs of Modern Family, which followed bingeing Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, Friends, Scrubs). But it is rather the physicality of watching TV with him. See, he pretty much sits on top of me, and is prone to bursts of activity like elbowing me, holding my hand, or slapping me (gently!). It’s this constant forms of touch that are heart-warming.
Continue reading “The Importance Of Touch”